SAFE's Success: Our Impact

Health

SAFE partner health facilities experienced an average 40.6% increase in health center deliveries 24 months after SAFE started working with them. Similarly sized and located facilities that SAFE did not work with experienced no substantial change during the same time period (comparison: t(5)=-2.8, p=0.038).

Complicated pregnancies in SAFE facilities were referred 15.7% less often than cases in non-SAFE facilities (Chi2(1)=5.45, Pr=0.02). Yet, they were still as likely to be referred for cases of serious complication, suggesting that SAFE facilities are better prepared to handle complications and delineate between mild and severe.

92% of women surveyed in SAFE communities could name at least 1 warning sign of pregnancy complications, and 80% could name 2 or more.

94% of women surveyed in SAFE communities could name at least 1 warning signs of post-partum complication, and 75% could name 2 or more.

100% of women surveyed in SAFE communities could name at least 1 warning sign of child health complications, 95% could name at least 2, and 72% could name 3 or more.

84% of surveyed men and and women in SAFE communities reported an increased utilization of health services attributable to SAFE outreach programs

Gender

92% of SAFE community groups fill at least 1/3 of their leadership positions with women; more than 50% of the groups fill 3/4 of their leadership positions with women

71% of surveyed women from SAFE community groups reported feeling empowered as leaders as a result of their work with SAFE

45% of surveyed SAFE community group members reported that SAFE's involvement of men in maternal health issues was essential to improving maternal and child health

Reach

Directly serve more than 30,000 people annually

Equipment and supplies treat more than 5,000 pregnant women and children under 5 every year

More than 300 community leaders trained in maternal and child health annually

Mentor 5 - 10 public health students from both the Uganda and the U.S. every year

What People are Saying

SAFE's approach is unique and sustainable:

"Many projects have come with a lot of money. They did a good job, but at the conclusion of their lifespan, they left without leaving anything behind. Because their program was so expensive and unsustainable. Even the local government could not sustain it. So it died a natural death. But the one you have brought, it started right from the grassroots. You have built the capacity of the communities, so that they can sustain it. We are very grateful."

(District Leadership)

SAFE's work empowers women:

"Me, as me, I just continue thanking SAFE and appreciating SAFE for what they have done because for me, in my home, I didn’t have anything, I could not even introduce people to my home. But right now, since SAFE came, I am somewhere, I am someone, and I can show that that is my home."

(Female, SAFE community group)

"SAFE has helped me personally. In the past I was not confident enough to do anything on my own, but since the time SAFE entered my life I can do a lot of things in my home; now I walk confidentially and I am something. I have to educate women in the community to deliver at health centers."

(Female, SAFE community group)

"I am one of the husbands of the group members. I thank you very much, I am excited that SAFE taught our women, because before they were somewhat behind in not knowing. But right now they are now able to go out there in the communities and do some good work. And they do it, but SAFE initiated it, the idea. And I welcome you to my home and thank you for the work you have done with them. I am grateful, whenever the women go out, sometimes they say we are going to go out, we are going to have a meeting with SAFE team, they say we are learning “A-B-C-D”, but when they come back, we really see what they go to learn. They are doing some good work in the communities."